Verizon Wireless to Offer New PIM Functionality on Microsoft Windows Mobile Platform

BEDMINSTER, NJ, and SAN FRANCISCO — From the CTIA Wireless I.T. and Entertainment 2004 show at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading wireless service provider, today announced it will offer an Enhanced Personal Information Management (ePIM) enhancement for Pocket Outlook on the Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 platform. This enhancement, exclusive to Verizon Wireless customers, gives business customers with Pocket Outlook utilizing Exchange Server 2003 four new and exclusive ePIM functionalities. Available with both Microsoft QuickStart and SmartStart programs for Exchange Server 2003 Mobile Messaging, the new functionalities include:

• Exchange Server 2003 global address list lookup;
• Meeting scheduling for mobile users with other contacts;
• The ability to view free and busy time of other contacts;
• Access summary information about a scheduled meeting after a meeting request has been configured.

Verizon Wireless' ePIM enhancement was unveiled last week to a select group of chief information officers at Microsoft's CIO Summit in Seattle. ePIM is a handset-resident software add-on to Pocket Outlook and currently featured on the Samsung i600 and i700 devices. Verizon Wireless expects to offer additional Windows Mobile-based devices later this year.

"This enhancement provides Verizon Wireless enterprise customers with important capabilities as we differentiate our Windows Mobile service and device offerings in the marketplace," said Cindy Patterson, vice president of enterprise data for Verizon Wireless.

"With Windows Mobile and Exchange Server 2003, our goal is to provide mobile professionals with reliable access to desktop data via a wireless device," said Scott Horn, senior director of the Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft Corp. "By combining Verizon Wireless' innovative and convenient over-the-air setup with the data/e-mail solution offered through Windows Mobile and Exchange Server 2003, mobile professionals can effectively manage and configure their Outlook-based information from wherever their business duties take them."

Both Microsoft QuickStart and SmartStart programs for Exchange Server 2003 Mobile Messaging feature the new ePIM enhancement. The QuickStart program for large enterprise customers provides customers with an executive level briefing, an architectural assessment of their messaging environment related to mobility and a 90-day trial enabling Exchange Server 2003 messaging on Windows Mobile-based devices for up to 20 key technical decision makers and mobile professionals. The trial is conducted onsite at the enterprise messaging center with up to three weeks of Microsoft time and 50 hours of premier support available to help the customer roll out and support the trial. Verizon Wireless offers 90 days of complimentary voice and data service for the trial users while Microsoft is supplying twenty devices. Available on customer request, the trial also includes two optional HP loaner servers and evaluation software.

SmartStart is a trial program for existing Exchange Server 2003 users to experience the power of Windows Mobile software. SmartStart offers small and medium size businesses a 60-day Exchange Server 2003 Mobile Messaging Limited Trial, and support includes an architecture design session to educate the companies' IT management on Exchange Server 2003 Mobile Messaging solution and five hours of premier support limited to device-specific support issues. Verizon Wireless offers 60 days of complimentary voice and data service and up to five Windows Mobile-based devices are provided with the SmartStart program.

Both the Microsoft QuickStart and SmartStart for Exchange Server 2003 Mobile Messaging are custom offerings developed and delivered by Microsoft in conjunction with the Communications Sector Americas Services team and the Enterprise Mobility Solution Specialists.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 40.4 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.  

Product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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